White Ragu with Ground Beef & Balsamic Vinegar on Fusilli Pasta is easy, delicious, rustic and different enough to be exciting. Affiliate links have been used to link to items I am discussing in this post. I got so distracted thinking about why it had never occurred to me cook tomatoes into a Thai curry…

This Middle Eastern Salata is a celebration of summer’s bounty as well as a gift that keeps on giving as the leftovers can be tossed with pasta to make an amazing pasta salad. Sammy and I made this Middle Eastern Salata together; salads like this are good practice for bigger kids working on knife skills….

Creamy Pasta Frittata with Bacon, Asparagus and Goat Cheese is a delicious breakfast or brunch centerpiece, and drizzled with balsamic vinegar it makes a light and elegant dinner entree. When I was asked to create a recipe using Hatfield Quality Meats bacon, I was immediately intrigued by their Cherrywood Extra Thick Cut Triple Smoked Bacon. As far as…

Browned Butter Green Beans are fresh, delicious, and just special enough to be worthy of a holiday meal! This post was sponsored by Kikkoman Soy Sauce. Readers of this blog may have noticed I rarely cook with green beans–but long time readers who really pay attention may also have noticed that plain blanched green beans…

That Springtime Salad celebrates everything about spring eating, with its myriad textures and fresh flavors. Inspired by a salad I was served in Italy, you will love this! So as you guys have probably figured out posting has become a little infrequent thanks to moving stress. But this post got extra delayed for a pretty…

Salsa Negra is your new best friend in the kitchen–it will keep in the fridge, add zip to your cooking, and it is super easy to make! Affiliate links have been used in this post to link to items I am discussing. I have had a fantastic recipe for Spiralized Calabacitas sitting in my drafts folder…

Crisp, refreshing and delicious, Southern Italian Style Arugula Salad with melons or peaches is the perfect antidote to summer heat! I have mentioned to many people that southern Italy (Calabria) really inspired me with their salads. This is the first such example. The one crucial ingredient in common to the Southern Italian style salads

Rosemary Mustard Balsamic Braised Chicken, Mushrooms and Potatoes is warming comfort food at its best, exploding with flavor. Affiliate links have been used to link to items I am discussing in this post. I could not decide at first whether to share this dish with you guys. After all, it is one of Those Dishes….

Rosemary Mustard Pork Tenderloin and Pasta with Mushrooms and Peas is a stunning spring recipe that your guests will drool over. A copy of The Glorious Vegetables of Italy was sent to me by the publishers for an honest review. Affiliate links were used to link to items I am discussing in this post. I…

Hi! I’m Laura and I am a recovering history major who has re-channeled all of my passion for learning about the history of different countries to learning about their food culture. That doesn’t mean every dish on here is strictly authentic, but it does mean that even my adaptations are not undertaken lightly. My goal is to show you–by doing–that these dishes are possible in your kitchen. Including desserts because I have quite the sweet tooth! Read More…